The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-30
New Business Enterprise.
CAPITAL OF S15O.OOe, THE
NEW BUSINESS ENTER
PRISE.

A Kansas City Journal reporter in
terviewed W. p. Rice, president of the
Union Investment Company, of thai
city, on Saturday last. Mr.. Rice, il
company with Hon. Clark ii. Barker
ex-postmaster of Portland, Me-, and
Hon. Bradford B. Smalley, ex-secre.
tary of the National Democratic Com
mittee and collector of customs at
Burlington, V. T. had just returned from
a trip through Kansas. In the course
of the interview, which appeared in the
Sunday edition of the Journal, Abilene
played an important part, and as part
of the article has bearing upon the
new enterprise, we copy that portion
of it:
| abilene is one Of the most important cities in
the state. 1t now has population of 5000. For
mery it was the headquarters of the cattle inter
ests OF that part of the state but its growth during
the past two years has been unusually rapid. Its
| business houses are very substantial and finely
built and il has the most elegant class of resden-
ces of any town in Kansas, large or small. The
town Is very attractive to visitors, and every
person who stops there goes away with favorable
| impression OF it. For long time Abilene had
only one railroad, the Union Pacific, but the Santa
Fe has built there and will be running there next
week and the Rock Island will be there within
| ten days. The Omaha and Southwestern, a north
and south road, will be there in short time; this
is one OF the branches of a great northwestern
road Real estate in Abilene has been active in
this last year, but not at all in the nature of a
boom. Chicago and Kansas City people have in
vested there quite largely, and my opinion is,
there are very fine opportunities for investment
now 1t is the belief OF every citizen OF Abilene,
that the city OF Abilene will double in population
in the next two or three years. As an evidence
of my belief in the future of Abilene made
arrangements, in connection with friends and
citizens of the City, TO Organize the Abilene
First National Bank, with paid up capital Of
S150,OOO Mr.. Clark II. Barker will take the pres
idency of the bank and locate there. For the pur-
pose of encouraging manufactures, 100000 has
been raised. AS an evidence of what the people
have done in this place, will state that they have
a carriage factory which now employs 100 men
and turns out some of the very best OF carriages;
which factory was secured by a cash donation OF
$4,000 and several acres OF ground. Among the
people now taking a lively interest in the future
of Abilene, are Hon. Joseph Medil of the
Chicago Tribune, and j. V. Farwell, OF Chicago"
"a horse car line is run over the city, and the
people have electric light plant and fine
system OF water works and telephone and all
modern Improvements, besides one of the finest
hotels in the state, the Stanton House. l have
never been in place where the people were so
progressive and pulled together SO tremendously
for the good of the town as in the city OF Abilene
From Abilene we went To Saltna, the county
seat of Saline county, thence To Mcpherson, and
from there to Newton. We then returned to
Kansas City on the night train over the Santa
Fe road. The country all the way from Newton
10 Kansas City Is a perfect garden. We returned
deeply impressed With the future OF Kansas, and
convinced that among all the towns we have
seen in the West, none surpassed in point OF
beauty and none certainly has future more
full OF promise than the growing, active and at
tractive city Of Abilene"
MeSsrs. Rice, Smalley and Barker
are the principal stock holders of the
new banking enterprise, the balance of
the stock being taken by number of
our progressive citizens. Application
has already been telegraphed to Wash
ington, and as soon as the currency is
printed, and a number of necessary
preliminaries arranged, the bank will
open its doors to the public. G.. w.
c. Rohrer, one of the stockholders, on
Saturday last purchased the Kansas
Farm Mortgage Company building, at
the corner of Second and Buckeye, pay
ing for the same ST. 800. This will be
fitted up in handsome and convenient
style, and occupied as quarters. Ed.
Humphrey, well and favorably known
in connection with the Abilene Bank,
a thorough financier, and a courteous
esteemed and worthy citizen, will
occupy the Office of cashier
This additional enterprise will be of
incalculable benefit to Abilene, and will
aid in bringing many more business
and manufacturing interests to our
city. Hurrah for Abilene.